JP6280253B2 - Inkjet head - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an inkjet head.

  An ink jet printer used for industrial use includes a plurality of ink jet heads arranged in the main scanning direction. Then, printing is performed on these inkjet heads while a recording medium such as paper is relatively moved in the sub-scanning direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  An ink jet head used in this type of ink jet printer includes a head having a piezoelectric element for ejecting ink and a drive IC for driving the piezoelectric element of the head. In general, a substrate on which a drive IC is mounted and a substrate on which an electronic component is mounted are housed in a casing from the viewpoint of preventing adhesion of ink and foreign matter.

  In a casing in which a drive IC or the like is accommodated, in order to prevent ink from entering the inside, sealing is performed with an adhesive or a resin at a joint between members. However, when the casing is sealed, there is a problem that it is difficult to remove the casing when repairing or maintaining the head.

  In addition, when the casing that houses the drive IC is sealed, it is necessary to take measures to efficiently dissipate the heat generated from the drive IC.

JP 2005-329551 A

  This invention is made | formed under the above-mentioned situation, and makes it a subject to efficiently radiate the heat | fever generated from the apparatus accommodated in a casing while reducing the location which performs the sealing process of a casing.

To achieve the above object, an inkjet head according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first axis direction and a plate having a plurality of nozzles arranged in a second axis direction parallel to the first axis. An actuator that is provided for each nozzle and has an actuator for ejecting ink from the nozzle, and that drives an ejection unit that ejects circulating ink to the recording medium and an actuator that is provided for each of the nozzles arranged in the first axis direction. A second drive circuit that drives an actuator provided in each of the nozzles arranged in the second axial direction, a conduit that supplies ink to the ejection unit, and a conduit that partially accommodates the conduit, a casing first driving circuit and the Lee second driving circuit are in contact, have a, casing, a first driving circuit, a second driving circuit, to accommodate separately the conduit .

It is a perspective view which shows the inkjet head which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view of a case. It is a perspective view of a case. It is a development perspective view of a circulation system, a support unit, a mask plate, and a head. It is a development perspective view of a head. It is a perspective view of a head and a flexible substrate. It is a perspective view of a head, a flexible substrate, and a rigid substrate. It is a development perspective view of a circulatory system. It is an expansion | deployment perspective view of a support unit. It is a figure for demonstrating the assembly procedure of an inkjet head. It is a figure for demonstrating the assembly procedure of an inkjet head. It is a figure for demonstrating the assembly procedure of an inkjet head. It is a figure for demonstrating the assembly procedure of an inkjet head. It is a figure which shows the YZ cross section of an inkjet head.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description, an orthogonal coordinate system including an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis that are orthogonal to each other is used.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an inkjet head 10 according to the present embodiment. The inkjet head 10 is a share mode shared wall type inkjet head. The inkjet head 10 includes a housing 20, a mask plate 41, a support unit 70 accommodated in the housing 20, a circulation system 60, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 20 includes two cases 30 _{1 and} 30 ₂ and two covers 40 ₁ and 40 ₂ .

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the case 30. FIG. 3 is a view of the case 30 in FIG. 2 as viewed from the + Y side. The case 30 is made of a member having a relatively high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the case 30 includes two parts, a U-shaped frame portion 31 and an inner wall portion 32 that divides a space surrounded by the frame portion 31 into two spaces 30 a and 30 b. Have.

  The frame part 31 constituting the case 30 is formed across the upper edge of the inner wall part 32 and the edges on both sides in the X-axis direction. A notch 37 is formed at the lower end of the frame portion 31, and a notch 38 is formed at a portion defining the space 30 b.

  In addition, semicircular cutouts 33 and 34 reaching the space 30b are formed on one upper side of the frame portion 31. A notch 36 reaching the space 30 a and a recess 35 that crosses the notch 36 are formed on the other upper side of the frame portion 31.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the cover 40 is a quadrangular plate. Similarly to the case 30, the cover 40 is made of a member having a relatively high conductivity such as aluminum.

  4 is an exploded perspective view of the mask plate 41, the circulation system 60, the support unit 70, and the head 50 that constitute the inkjet head 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the mask plate 41 is a frame-like member whose longitudinal direction is the X-axis direction. A protrusion 41 a that protrudes inward is provided at the lower end of the mask plate 41.

  FIG. 5 is a developed perspective view of the head 50. As shown in FIG. 5, the head 50 includes a base substrate 51, a frame 52, and an orifice plate 53.

  The base substrate 51 is a rectangular plate member whose longitudinal direction is the X-axis direction. The base substrate 51 is made of alumina, for example, and four openings 51a are formed along the X axis at the center in the Y axis direction. Further, eight openings 51b are formed along the X axis on the −Y side and the + Y side of the opening 51a.

  Two drive units 54 and 55 are arranged on the upper surface of the base substrate 51. As shown in FIG. 5, the drive units 54 and 55 are disposed on both sides of the opening 51a in the Y-axis direction.

  Each of the drive units 54 and 55 is composed of trapezoidal piezoelectric elements arranged along the X axis, and a space between the piezoelectric elements is a pressure chamber. In addition, each of the piezoelectric elements constituting the drive units 54 and 55 is connected to an electrode pattern formed on the −Z side surface of the base substrate 51.

  The frame 52 is a frame-shaped member whose longitudinal direction is the X-axis direction. The frame 52 is made of, for example, ceramic, alumina, or a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel whose surface is covered with an insulating material. The frame 52 is slightly smaller than the base substrate 51.

  The orifice plate 53 is a rectangular sheet made of polyimide or the like and having the longitudinal direction as the X-axis direction. In the orifice plate 53, circular openings 53a are formed at equal intervals along the X axis. In addition, circular openings 53b are formed at equal intervals along the X axis on the + Y side of the openings 53a. The openings 53a and 53b function as nozzles for ejecting ink circulating through the inkjet head 10 onto a recording medium such as paper.

  In the base substrate 51, the frame 52, and the orifice plate 53 configured as described above, the frame 52 is bonded to the −Z side surface of the base substrate 51, and the orifice plate 53 is bonded to the −Z side surface of the frame 52. To be integrated. Thereby, the head 50 is formed.

  As can be seen with reference to FIG. 6, a flexible substrate 91 is connected to the head 50. The flexible substrate 91 is a flexible substrate made of, for example, an insulating film and a conductor layer. The flexible substrate 91 has an opening 91a whose longitudinal direction is the X-axis direction at the center, and slits parallel to the Y-axis extending from the outer edge to the central portion are formed on the + Y side and the -Y side of the opening 91a. Yes. In addition, four drive ICs 100 are mounted on the surface of the flexible substrate 91 on the + Z side.

As shown in FIG. 7, the flexible substrate 91 is bonded to the base substrate 51 with the frame 52 of the head 50 inserted into the opening 91a. As a result, the electrode pattern formed on the −Z side surface of the base substrate 51 and the conductor layer of the flexible substrate 91 are electrically connected. As a result, each of the driving ICs 100 and the piezoelectric elements constituting the head 50 are connected. Each is connected. In the head 50, the piezoelectric elements constituting the drive unit 55 are driven by the drive ICs 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ . The piezoelectric elements constituting the driving unit 54 is driven by the drive IC 100 _3, 100 _4. The drive ICs 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ are first drive circuits, and the drive ICs 100 ₃ and 100 ₄ are second drive circuits.

On the -Y side and + Y side of the flexible substrate 91, two rigid wiring board ₉₂ 1, 92 ₂ are connected. This is rigid wiring board 92 _1, 92 ₂ of the front and rear surfaces, electronic parts, such as connectors and semiconductor devices are mounted.

FIG. 8 is a developed perspective view of the circulation system 60. As shown in FIG. 8, the circulation system 60 includes a manifold 63, a pair of pipes 62 ₁ and 62 ₂ , and a pair of connectors 61 ₁ and 61 ₂ .

The connectors 61 ₁ and 61 ₂ are members for connecting the pipes. The connectors 61 ₁ and 61 ₂ are shaped so that the upper end and the lower end are slightly smaller. The upper ends of these connectors 61 ₁ and 61 ₂ are connected to a circulation pump that circulates ink and an ink tank that stores ink, via a pipe (not shown). Pipes 62 ₁ and 62 ₂ are connected to the lower ends of the connectors 61 ₁ and 61 ₂ .

The pipes 62 ₁ and 62 ₂ are pipes whose longitudinal direction is the Z-axis direction. These pipes 62 ₁ and 62 ₂ are made of an elastic material such as rubber or silicon rubber.

  The manifold 63 includes a base 63a having a flow path formed therein, and a connector 63b bonded to the base 63a.

  The connector 63b has a pair of connection portions 63c and 63d protruding in the + Z direction. The connection parts 63c and 63d are shaped so that the upper end part becomes slightly smaller.

  The base 63a connects the four openings 51a formed in the base substrate 51 constituting the head 50 and the connection portion 63c, and connects the eight openings 51b formed in the base substrate 51 and the connection portion 63d.

Connector ₆₁ 1 described above, 61 _2, pipe ₆₂ 1, 62 _2, and manifold 63, connecting portions 63c of the manifold 63, the 63d, the lower end of the pipe ₆₂ 1, 62 ₂ are connected to the connector ₆₁ 1, 61 ₂ The upper ends of the pipes 62 ₁ and 62 ₂ are connected to be integrated as shown in FIG. Thereby, the circulation system 60 is formed.

  FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the support unit 70. As shown in FIG. 9, the support unit 70 includes a support plate 71, a seal member 72, and a support member 73.

  The support plate 71 is a metal member whose longitudinal direction is the X-axis direction. Both end portions 71b of the support plate 71 are shaped so that the dimension in the Y-axis direction is slightly smaller, and a circular opening 71c penetrating in the Z-axis direction is formed. Further, two circular openings 71 a penetrating in the Z-axis direction are formed in the central portion of the support plate 71. The two openings 71a are arranged at a predetermined distance in the X-axis direction.

  The seal member 72 is a sheet-like elastic member whose longitudinal direction is the X-axis direction. The seal member 72 is made of, for example, rubber or silicon rubber, and a long hole 72a whose longitudinal direction is the X-axis direction is formed at the center.

  The support member 73 is a rectangular parallelepiped member whose longitudinal direction is the X-axis direction. A protrusion 73 a that protrudes upward (+ Z direction) is formed at the center of the upper surface of the support member 73. The protruding portion 73 a is shaped so as to have the same shape as the long hole formed in the seal member 72. The support member 73 is formed with two circular openings 73b penetrating downward from the upper surface of the protrusion 73a. These two openings 73b are arranged at a predetermined distance in the X-axis direction. Further, notches 73 c are formed below both ends of the support member 73.

  The seal member 72 is disposed on the upper surface of the support member 73 so that the protrusion 73 a of the support member 73 described above is inserted into the elongated hole 72 a of the seal member 72. Then, the support plate 71 is fixed to the support member 73 with a bolt or the like through the seal member 72. Thereby, the support plate 71, the seal member 72, and the support member 73 are integrated, and the support unit 70 is formed.

  Next, a procedure for assembling the case 30, the mask plate 41, the head 50, the circulation system 60, and the support unit 70 will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10, a base 63 a constituting the manifold 63 of the circulation system 60 is bonded to the base substrate 51 of the head 50 to which the flexible substrate 91 and the rigid wiring substrate 92 are connected. Then, the support member 73 of the support unit 70 is bonded to the connection portions 63c and 63d in a state where the connection portions 63c and 63d of the manifold 63 protrude from the openings 71a of the support plate 71 constituting the support unit 70.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the connecting portion 63c of the manifold 63, connected respectively to pipes ₆₂ 1, 62 ₂ to 63d, to connect the pipe ₆₂ 1, 62 ₂ each connector ₆₁ 1, 61 _2.

Next, as can be seen with reference to FIG. 12, a rectangular seal member 97 whose longitudinal direction is the X-axis direction is inserted into the recess 35 provided in each of the cases 30 ₁ and 30 ₂ .

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the case 30 ₁ , the support member 73 constituting the support unit 70 is attached to the + Y side surface and the −Y side surface via a seal member 95 made of rubber or silicon rubber. Each of 30 ₂ is fixed using a bolt. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 13, the cases 30 ₁ and 30 ₂ are in close contact with each other. At this time, the connectors 61 ₁ and 61 ₂ pass through the circular openings formed by the semicircular cutouts 33 and 34 provided in the cases 30 ₁ and 30 ₂ , respectively. Further, the + X side end portion and the −X side end portion of the support unit 70 are exposed from a rectangular opening portion formed by the notches 38 provided in the cases 30 ₁ and 30 ₂ , respectively.

Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the flexible cables 98 ₁ and 98 ₂ are connected to the connectors 92 a mounted on the rigid wiring boards 92 ₁ and 92 ₂ , respectively, and the flexible board 91 and the flexible board 91 are connected. The rigid wiring boards 92 ₁ and 92 ₂ thus formed are accommodated in the spaces 30a of the cases 30 ₁ and 30 _2, respectively.

Then, the flexible cable ₉₈ 1, 98 _2, in a state located in the case ₃₀ 1, 30 _2, as shown in FIG. 1, the case ₃₀ 1, 30 _2, respectively, the cover ₄₀ 1, 40 _2, bolts Install using. Then, the mask plate 41 is placed on the head 50 and the manifold 63 from below, and the protrusion 41 a of the mask plate 41 is bonded to the lower surface of the base substrate 51 of the head 50. The mask plate 41 is positioned by the protrusion 41a coming into contact with the base substrate 51 of the head 50, and the upper end of the mask plate 41 is in a state of being located in the notches formed in the cases 30 ₁ and 30 ₂ . A general term for the cases 30 ₁ and 30 _{2 and the} covers 40 ₁ and 40 ₂ is defined as a casing.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a YZ section of the inkjet head 10 shown in FIG. When the case 30, the mask plate 41, the head 50, the circulation system 60, and the support unit 70 are assembled as described above, the cases 30 ₁ and 30 ₂ are brought into close contact with each other as shown in FIG. The circulation system 60 is accommodated in a new space composed of the spaces 30a of 30 ₁ and 30 ₂ . Then, the case ₃₀ 1, _{30 2,} the cover ₄₀ 1, 40 _2, and the space defined by the mask plate 41, the flexible substrate 91 and the rigid wiring board ₉₂ 1, 92 ₂ is accommodated.

In the inkjet head 10, the surface where the case 30 and the cover 40 come into contact is a flat surface. For this reason, for example, an adhesive or silicon is used to seal the gap between the cover 40 and the mask plate 41 indicated by the white arrow in FIG. Thus, the space in which the flexible substrate 91 and the rigid wiring board 92 _1, 92 ₂ is accommodated is sealed, the ink jet head 10 shown in FIG. 1 is completed.

As described above, in the inkjet head 10 according to the present embodiment, the space gap between the cover 40 and the mask plate 41 by being sealed process, the flexible substrate 91 and the rigid wiring board 92 _1, 92 ₂ are accommodated Is sealed. As a result, the ink ejected from the head 50 does not adhere to the flexible substrate 91 or the rigid wiring substrate 92, and it is possible to prevent malfunction caused by a short circuit of the electric circuit.

In the inkjet head 10 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, drive ICs 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ that control ink ejected from the openings 53 a serving as nozzles, and ink ejected from the openings 53 _{b serving} as nozzles. The drive ICs 100 ₃ and 100 ₄ that perform the above control are accommodated separately. For this reason, compared with the case where the four drive ICs 100 are accommodated together, the heat dissipation efficiency for one drive IC 100 is improved, and the heat generated from each drive IC 100 can be efficiently radiated.

  In the inkjet head 10 according to the present embodiment, since the contact surface between the case 30 and the cover 40 is a flat surface, the ink enters from the gap between the case 30 and the cover 40 only by assembling the case 30 and the cover 40. Can be prevented. Therefore, the drive IC 100 and the rigid wiring board 92 can be sealed simply by sealing the gap between the cover 40 and the mask plate 41. For this reason, the man-hour required for a sealing process can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of an apparatus can be reduced as a result.

  In the inkjet head 10 according to the present embodiment, when the support member 73 of the support unit 70 and the connection portions 63c and 63d of the connector 63b constituting the manifold 63 are bonded, as shown in FIG. 73 is filled with an adhesive 99. As a result, the adhesive 99 seals the gap between the support member 73 and the connection portions 63c and 63d. For this reason, while supporting the circulation system 60, the space in which the drive IC 100 is accommodated and the space in which the circulation system 60 is accommodated can be surely partitioned.

  In the inkjet head 10 according to the present embodiment, the drive IC 100 is in contact with the case 30 as shown in FIG. For this reason, the heat generated from the drive IC 100 can be efficiently transmitted to the case 30. Therefore, by using the casing 20 including the case 30 and the cover 40 as a heat sink, the heat generated from the drive IC 100 can be efficiently radiated to the outside.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited by the said embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the gap between the flexible cable 98 and the notch 36 provided in the case 30 is sealed by the seal member 97. Not limited to this, the gap between the flexible cable 98 and the notch 36 provided in the case 30 may be sealed using an adhesive, silicon, or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the case 30 and the cover 40 are fixed, so that the gap between the case 30 and the cover 40 is sealed. Not limited to this, the gap between the case 30 and the cover 40 may be sealed with an adhesive, silicon, or the like to improve the sealing performance.

  The inkjet head 10 according to the above embodiment is an example, and the number of openings 53 a and 53 b provided in the head 50 and the size of the head 50 can be appropriately changed according to the use and resolution of the inkjet head 10. .

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

10 Inkjet head 20 Case 30 Case (part of casing)
40 Cover (part of casing)
50 heads (injection unit)
60 Circulating system 100 Drive IC
100 ₁ , 100 ₂ 1st drive circuit 100 ₃ , 100 ₄ 2nd drive circuit

Claims (4)

A plate having a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first axis direction and a plurality of nozzles arranged in a second axis direction parallel to the first axis, and provided for each of the nozzles, for discharging ink from the nozzles An ejection unit that ejects the circulating ink onto the recording medium,
A first drive circuit for driving the actuator provided in each of the nozzles arranged in the first axis direction;
A second drive circuit for driving the actuator provided in each of the nozzles arranged in the second axis direction;
A conduit for supplying ink to the ejection unit;
A casing that partially accommodates the conduit and in contact with the first drive circuit and the second drive circuit;
I have a,
The casing is an inkjet head that separately accommodates the first drive circuit, the second drive circuit, and the pipe line .   The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the casing is made of metal and functions as a heat sink.   The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the first drive circuit and the second drive circuit include a drive IC that drives the actuator. The casing is
A support member for supporting the injection unit;
Together with the support member, a first case and a second case forming a space in which the pipe line is accommodated;
A first cover that forms a space for housing the first drive circuit with the first case;
A second cover that forms a space for accommodating the second drive circuit in the previous period together with the second case;
The inkjet head according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising:

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